Episode notes
My guest today is Dr. Jessica Borushok, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist in private practice specializing in anxiety disorders and health-related concerns, including insomnia, chronic pain, and coping with chronic medical conditions. In addition to clinical work, Dr. Borushok provides acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) training and consultation to other mental health professionals. Dr. Borushok is the co-author of numerous books, including her most recent, The Complete Guide to Acceptanc...
Mentally Flexible
by Tom Parkes, LCSW · English · Health
Join psychotherapist Tom Parkes as he has meaningful conversations to help you build mental flexibility. Each episode will explore topics related to psychology, mental health, and creativity. With an open mind and a sense of curiosity these conversations will help you better understand yourself,…
More from Mentally Flexible
-
E81 · 6 Nov 2025 · 1 hr 2 min
Laura Knouse, PhD | ADHD: Expanding the Clinical Lens
My guest today is Laura Knouse, PhD. Laura is a clinical psychologist and professor at the University of Richmond. Her research and clinical expertise focus on the nature, assessment, and treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in adults.. Her recent research aims to better understand the self-regulation and motivation difficulties of college students with ADHD in order to develop effective interventions. Recent collaborative work with faculty in other disciplines focuses...
-
E80 · 10 Oct 2025 · 52 min
A Conversation with Ralph De La Rosa - Shared in Loving Memory
Today’s episode features Ralph De La Rosa. Ralph was the author of three books, including Outshining Trauma: A New Vision of Radical Compassion (foreword by Richard Schwartz). He was a psychotherapist in private practice and a longtime meditation teacher known for his radically honest and humorous approach. His work was featured in GQ, CNN, NY Post, Tricycle, Mindful Magazine, and beyond. Perhaps most crucial is that Ralph walked the path of outshining trauma alongside the people he worked ...
-
E79 · 22 Sep 2025 · 56 min
Rikke Kjelgaard | Vulnerability, Scars, and Bringing ACT Into Life
My guest today is Rikke Kjelgaard. Rikke is a licensed psychologist, peer-reviewed ACT trainer, and author. Rikke is on a mission to help therapists thrive and to be brave and authentic helpers. Trained as a clinical psychologist, she has a 15 year background in the science of human behavior and the practice of behavior change. Rikke is a popular speaker internationally, and she is known to bring both passion and vulnerability to her talks. She transforms the lives of her audience by bringing...
-
E77 · 25 Jul 2025 · 53 min
Dr. Robyn Walser | Presence and Authenticity in the Therapy Room
My guest today is Dr. Robyn Walser. Robyn is a clinical psychologist, educator, and author of several influential books on ACT for professionals and general readers. She is Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of California, Berkeley, and Director of Research at Bay Area Trauma Recovery Clinical Services. She is also on the staff of the National Center for PTSD at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System. Internationally known for her compassionate, client-centered approach, Dr. Walser h...
-
E76 · 14 Jul 2025 · 1 hr 3 min
Noelle McWard Aquino, LCSW | Anxiety Unpacked
My guest today is Noelle McWard Aquino. Noelle is a Chicago-based therapist who specializes in the treatment of anxiety disorders. She is the author of Anxiety Unpacked: Discover Your Type and Recover Your Peace, a bestselling book that helps readers identify and work with the specific patterns driving their anxiety. Her work has been featured in publications including Psychology Today and Psychotherapy Networker. Noelle speaks regularly to both clinical and general audiences, training therap...
-
E75 · 20 Jun 2025 · 1 hr 2 min
Alissa Jerud, PhD | Emotion-Savvy Parenting
My guest today is Alissa Jerud, PhD. Alissa is a licensed clinical psychologist working in private practice and a clinical assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania. In her private practice, Dr. Jerud specializes in exposure-based treatment of anxiety-related disorders and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills training. She particularly enjoys helping other parents learn to accept, regulate, and tolerate their emotions, as well as their children's. Alissa is the author of a ne...
-
E90 · 10 Aug 2026 · 51 min
Paige Rome, RPsych | CBT-I Meets ACT: A More Flexible Approach to Insomnia
My guest today is Paige Rome, RPsych. Paige is a Registered Psychologist and founder of Common Thread Psychology in Airdrie, Alberta. Paige is trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), the leading evidence-based psychological treatment for chronic insomnia, and brings both professional expertise and personal experience with insomnia to her work. Her broader approach to therapy is collaborative, compassionate, and evidence-based, drawing particularly from Acceptance a...
-
E89 · 14 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 2 min
Steven C Hayes, PhD | Reimagining ACT
My guest today is Steven C. Hayes, PhD. Steve is a clinical psychologist, researcher, and one of the most influential figures in modern psychotherapy. He is the originator of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), developer of Relational Frame Theory (RFT), and co-developer of Process-Based Therapy. An Emeritus Professor at the University of Nevada, Reno, Dr. Hayes has authored more than 45 books and over 700 scientific publications, making him one of the most cited psychologists in the wor...
-
E88 · 8 May 2026 · 52 min
Tamara Hubbard, LCPC | Parenting Through Food Allergy Anxiety with ACT
Tamara Hubbard, MA, LCPC, is a licensed clinical professional counselor with more than 20 years of clinical experience. She specializes in helping parents of children with food allergies find the balance between managing anxiety and living fully. An active allied health member of professional allergy and immunology organizations, Tamara is a national speaker and has created several widely used resources within the allergy community. She is also the author of May Contain Anxiety: Managing the ...
-
2 Apr 2026 · 54 min
Paul Eastwick PhD | Rethinking Attraction: Why Your “Type” Isn’t What You Think
My guest today is Paul Eastwick, a social psychologist and professor at the University of California, Davis, whose research focuses on attraction, romantic relationships, and the gap between what we think we want and what actually unfolds in real life. His latest book, Bonded by Evolution, challenges a lot of common assumptions about dating and compatibility. In this episode, we explore: Why many of our inherited “rules” about attraction—like mate value, having a type, or alpha/beta dyn...
Take it with you
The Melo app keeps playing with the screen off, works in the car and on your watch, wakes you to your station, and browses the whole catalogue offline. Free, no ads, no account.
